Chapter 2

Bella's POV

I sat by Edward, fighting to control my feelings. It wasn't easy, though- I felt confusion, happiness, worry, and fear all jostling for first place in my mind. Jasper was eying me speculatively, and I knew I had to get my feelings under control before he stepped in. I didn't really enjoy having my emotions manipulated by the blonde, lowkey vampire. I tried to settle my mind, to think of things logically. Here's what I knew- I wasn't a vampire. That had to be true, as my throat wasn' t about to burst into flame from thirst. Also...Edward wasn't a vampire. Somehow, when he bit me, he changed. The proof was right in front of me- Edward was sleeping. He hadn't seemed very upset when he figured it out during the few minutes he was awake, but I was certain that it hadn't sunk in yet. How could he not be angry with me for taking away his strength, his speed, and most importantly, the only family he'd had since 1918? There was hardly any way for him to stay with them now. He could change back, but he wouldn't, if I could never be a vampire. I couldn't- I wouldn't- make him choose between us. I would run away...I had to. There wsa no way we could live as humans together, either. I couldn't bear to watch him grow old. He would- I didn't want to think it- die someday. But maybe we could live together as he first wanted to. I would stay human, and he would stay a vampire. He would die anways, I remembered. He would go to the Volturri the moment my heart stopped beating. Any rationality I'd held on to escaped. If I couldn't become a vampire, and Edward continued to love me, he would die. The emothions that I'd barely supressed before came rushing back as I stifled a sob. Jasper fled the room, the emotional atmosphere too much for him to bear.

Emmett came in as Jasper rocketed away. "Woah," he grunted. "What's his problem? Oh, hey Bella. How's Edward?"

"Human," I sobbed.

He judged my expression for a minute, then exhaled exasperatedly as he plopped down on the edge of the bed. "You are so predictable, Bella," he said, facing me. "Are you honestly going to blame yourself on this one too?"

"It's my fault if Edward dies, Emmett," I whispered. "And if I can't become a vampire, he will die. There's no way around it."

"Who cares?" Emmett nearly shouted. "I mean, I love my brother, Bella, but death can be a damn good thing if you've lived for a century or two!"

I was shocked into silence. I think my mouth was hanging open, too, because Emmett tried, and failed, to supress a grin when he saw my face.

"Wait..." I muttered, having the problem with coherency that usually only affected me when Edward stared into my eyes. " You...you want to die? But I thought you were...you know...happy. And you and Rose were in love. And wanted to be together forever?" My statement faded into a question as I puzzled over his viewpoint.

"Bella, Rose and I are different from you and Edward. We know the world won't end if one of us dies. Rosalie wants to be human more than anything, and I'd happily go along with her, if it were possible. It's like the next step, you know? The next play after being in time out for so long. I would miss my strength, I guess. But I can handle humans,even when I am one! Man, the chance to compete with actual people! They don't have vampire olympics, you know." he added conspiratorily.

"I guess not," I murmured, my mind other places. "Huh."

Could there actually be a positive to Edward being human? I mean, if the rest of his family were, then maybe...But still, he would die. I started to see how the concept of heaven came about- the alternative, being left without your love for eternity, was too painful to consider.

"Emmett," I said. " I need to call a meeting."